Is any one here old enough to remember the old Airfix magazines from the late 1960's - 70s?? If so do any of you remember a series of articles in them by Chris Ellis about useing the Airfix 1/76 Bren carriers as the basis for scratch-building various light tanks...includeing this particular model???

I heard that he still has the models. I just bring it up for the fun of the old memories.

Yes, I remember Airfix mag. Not only was it the first modelling magazine I started buying (it was pre-Mil Mod), but of course in the mid-eighties it was the first mag I started writing for. I am happy to recall those early conversions by Chris Ellis, and other features by Gerald Scarborough of course, which inspired me to do more modellling. I'm happy to admit that I have Airfix mags all the way back from when it stopped publication to 1963, plus copy nos 1 and 2 which I picked up in a shop many years ago.

In those days there was only a fraction of the kits and references we are lucky enough to have available today.

I'm like you with regards to the Airfix Magazines. I only require a dozen or so very early issues to complete my collection. I've seen them advertised on E-Bay. The starting prices are reasonable. However, it then gets silly. I always set myself a limit before bidding. Once that's been reached, I stop.

The magazine, itself, was first class. There was great variety in it. Model railways, ships, aircraft, cars, figures, dioramas, all were covered. Also, the conversions varied from the simple to the slightly more complex involving using blocks of balsa to fill gaps. These had to be sanded smooth and then sealed with a mixture of talcum powder and dope!

Or, converting waterslide transfers to something else by the simple expedient of painting over the existing transfer (decal).

I believe it was the Airfix Magazine which taught me how to make my own transfers. Briefly. Take an old fashioned label which needs to be moistened. Paint several layers of varnish onto the gum. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next. Then paint your design onto the varnish. When dry, treat like an ordinary transfer. Crude, I know. Basic, I know. But in those days, we didn't have the after market supplies we have today

Chas..I admit my memory is fuzzy as to which tanks scratch built but I seem to recall there were at least 2 models of the Vickers and I remember the article on the Japanese light tank.

There was something truly special about that magazine.

Just as a point of interest...Chris Ellis is still writeing, editing and publishing a model railroad magazine...its strictly B&W photos and line drawings..very much has the feel of the old Airfix magazine......Model Trains International.

Ah, Airfix Magazine, I cut my teeth on that ... and it was fun writing articles for it.

Do a scale drawing (usually more guestimation that accuracy) make the model usually with Airfix parts for the suspension etc., photograph it and write it up all for eight quid! (£8), which would be spent on more Airfix kits and other bits and pieces including camera film. Those pictures were postage stamp and awful at first.